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Council of Representatives members adopt new bylaws

Matt Bramanti | Tuesday, November 4, 2003

Executive Cabinet members met Monday evening to discuss their new bylaws, which shake up the composition of the broad-based committee. Under its new bylaws, which were adopted unanimously, the body will now be called the Council of Representatives, reflecting its composition of members from bodies across student government.

A key change to the bylaws allows for four members of the Student Senate to receive voting seats on the new council. Student Body President Pat Hallahan said the addition of the senators allows the council to more directly represent the concerns of students.

“It increases representation across the board,” Hallahan said.

The new bylaws also eliminate several positions from the council. Chairs of the six Club Coordination Council divisions will no longer sit on the Council of Representatives, though the CCC president will remain a voting member. In addition, the Student Union Board director of programming will no longer be a council member.

Hallahan said the new arrangement is more fair to all student constituencies.

“Their voices won’t be lost – they’ll be heard through the heads of their organizations,” he said.

“There’s no real loss and a lot of gain,” he said.

Several amendments were added to the new bylaws. Tai Romero, SUB director of programming, proposed an amendment making Council of Representatives meetings open to the public.

The council approved the amendment without objection, reversing an April decision to close the Executive Cabinet meetings. Other amendments clarified the definition of a quorum and mandated that members give three days’ notice before bringing new business to the council.

The council also voted to meet twice a week for the rest of the semester, in order to allow enough meeting time for a successful transition to the new constitution.